The 135-pound contender was favored entering Friday’s first-ever Strikeforce female tournament, and after making it through Maiju Kujala in the night’s opening round, Tate outlasted a game Hitomi Akano to earn a unanimous decision, a tournament-winner’s belt and a future shot at the welterweight belt.

The single-night tournament was featured at Friday’s Showtime-broadcast Strikeforce Challengers 10 event at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.

Joe Riggs and Louis Taylor met in a 182-pound affair in the night’s main event.

The first fight of the night saw Tate earn her way into the finals by utilizing her superior grappling to stymie a gritty Maiju Kujala.

Despite being the least-experienced member of the welterweight tournament, Kujala showed a determined spirit and ample takedown defense. Nevertheless, Tate was able to secure a takedown in each of the two rounds and establish top position.

Tate’s standup attack was also sharp in the face of Kujala’s powerful boxing, and the performance was sharp enough to earn her a place in the tournament finals with a unanimous decision result.

In her Strikeforce debut, Kujala (4-2 MMA, 0-1 SF) lost for just the second time in her young career – though both negative results have come by way of decision.

Meanwhile, Akano punched her ticket to the finals with a gutsy display of grappling against Carina Damm.

Damm looked sharp early as she avoided Akano’s multiple takedown attempts while landing several powerful strikes of her own in the frame. When the fight was on the ground, Damm showed capable submission defense. Akano finished the round searching for a toehold, but she released it when it appeared a whistle signifying the 10-second mark was mistaken for a round-ending signal.

It hardly mattered, as Akano went back on the attack in the second.

Damm worked intelligently to top position after being tripped to the floor in the second, but Akano showed her bottom game strength. An armbar-omo plata series fell short, but an impressive sweep to the top coupled with a triangle choke attempt proved impossible to overcome. Damm was trapped, and she was forced to tap.

The loss snapped a 10-fight win streak for Damm (15-4 MMA, 0-1 SF).

Tate’s final win didn’t come easily. In fact, Akano actually took the first round on the MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) card with a slick judo throw and excellent grappling underneath.

But things began to change as the second round unfolded. Tate worked repeatedly to the back in the final two frames and maintained the dominant position. Akano tried desperately to offer some of the slick escapes that had served her well all night, but Tate simply out-muscled her and maintained the position.

Tate tried desperately to sink in a rear-naked choke throughout both rounds, but Akano (16-8 MMA, 1-2 SF) defended well. Unfortunately for her, she gave away the rounds in the process and Tate was awarded the win.

Tate (11-2 MMA, 4-1 SF) now gets a future shot at the 135-pound belt currently held by Sarah Kaufman. Top contender Marloes Coenen is expected to get first crack at Kaufman, but Tate is next in line.

The evening’s main event didn’t open with fireworks, but hometown hero Riggs did eventually drop enough bombs to earn the win.

Riggs and Taylor looked tentative in the opening two rounds, and the light-on-action frames looked practically even. Taylor earned takedowns in both rounds, but he really did very little with the position once there. In short, the fight appeared up in the air heading into the final frame.

Riggs secured it with authority.

As Taylor began to loosen up on his feet, Riggs unleashed a left hand that buckled his opponent. Taylor tried to earn another takedown and clear the cobwebs, but Riggs shoved him to his back and moved quickly into a crucifix position.

Riggs dropped left hands down from the top, and a battered Taylor didn’t wait for referee intervention. The tap to strikes came at the 2:07 mark of the final round.

Riggs (33-11 MMA, 4-3 SF) rebounds from a January loss to Jay Hieron and now has options in both the 170- and 185-pound class. Meanwhile, Taylor (6-2 MMA, 0-2 SF) loses for just the second time in his career, and both results have come as a result of a submission via strikes.

While the humble Ryan Couture said before Friday’s bout that he didn’t believe he deserved to make his professional debut on Showtime, his performance against Lucas Stark suggested otherwise.

While he lacks the traditional wrestling experience of his UFC Hall of Famer father, Randy Couture, Ryan showed his grappling is developing just fine.

Couture worked an early trip into a choke attempt from the north-south position, but Stark escaped to his feet and transitioned beautifully into a fireman’s carry takedown. But Couture remained alert in the takedown and immediately locked in a triangle choke. Stark was trapped, and he was forced to tap just 75 seconds into the bout.

Couture (1-0 MMA, 1-0 SF) earns a win in his professional debut, while Stark (2-5 MMA, 0-1 SF) has now dropped four of his past five contests.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.